For a lot of children, when they start school, playtime is suddenly taken away from them. There is no longer time for playing, drawing or getting messy, it’s just straight down to business. Straight into the academic stuff, and this can be challenging for some...
I have never come across a family who regretted giving their child another year. That’s the first point, and a pretty important one at that. My second is; do you want your child to ‘just cope’ or do you want them to thrive? Children need to develop...
When we think of reading, we think of someone holding a book or a newspaper, or these days an Ipad or even a phone, but the foundations for reading, the crucial skills that are required for readers to be successful don't contain any actual ‘print’ (visual...
Some children will start school for the first time next year and whilst is it an extremely exciting time, some children (and parents) can feel a little nervous and overwhelmed. This is normal, but I wanted to share with you a few simple things you...
Just the thought of this will probably make some of you cringe, but hear me out! Messy play not only fosters curiosity, imagination and exploration, it also supports the ability to play independently and is a fantastic way to develop fine motor skills, problem-solving skills...
Simply put, yes, it is absolutely crucial that we read aloud to our children. We are told very early on that reading to our children is beneficial, but do we really know why? “Reading aloud with children is known to be the single most important activity...
Kirsty speaks with Ani from Mumlife Australia about School Readiness and what it is. Is Your Child Ready to Start School - Podcast, Kirsty Gibbs In this podcast, Kirsty covers: ✔ What skills and knowledge are essential for a child starting school? ✔ What can parents do at home...
Correct Pencil Grip Resource *It is important to note, that we should not be forcing the correct grip on children who are too young and who are not yet developmentally ready. Generally once a child is the age of four, they will be able to use...
As a teacher of upper primary and high school, I know the importance of a fluent and efficient handwriting style and technique. As an early years teacher, I also know the importance of developing these skills and good habits early on. I have been working with...
So here’s the deal… In Queensland, if your child turns five by 30th June, you can send them to school in January of that year. This could mean that your child will start school as a four-year-old, along with children who are five turning six that...